Meet Maja Stark: Swedish LPGA Star Life, Career, and Other Interests Explored

Maja Stark’s stride for success seems to be ongoing. After a stellar runner-up performance at the 2024 Chevron Championship with a total score of 11-under-par, just two shots behind the winner, Nelly Korda, Stark seems to have set her gaze upon success at the succeeding JM Eagle LA Championship. With a score of 8-under-par, she is currently placed second after the end of Round 2, just four strokes behind the current leader, Grace Kim. It seems Stark is relentless in the pursuit of her first win in the 2024 LPGA Tour season.

Born on December 10, 1999, in Abbekås, Sweden, the 24-year-old boasts a glorious amateur career in addition to her numerous feats as a professional golfer. Back in her days as an amateur, she won a whopping total of six tournaments and even emerged victorious as part of the US team at the 2017 Junior Solheim Cup.

In fact, as part of Oklahoma State University, she earned the Big 12 Golfer of the Year honors and became the first Cowgirl golfer since Julie Yang in 2014 to earn this award. Her destiny shined brighter when she won her maiden title at the 2022 ISPS Handa World Invitational as a non-member, which paved her way to earn membership on the LPGA Tour. But who is her support system on course while she aims for the stars?

Maja Stark’s backbone on the course

The young Swede remains an eternally grateful team player. Time and again, she has come forward to express her gratitude to her team, which helps her to demonstrate finesse on the course. The 24-year-old’s current caddie is Hadley Trenfield. This alliance began around November 2022.

Her runner-up streak began soon after she joined forces with Trenfield. This was the 2023 Hilton Grand Tournament of Champions, where she finished behind winner Brooke Henderson. Talking about her caddie on their first run together, she said, “I just told my caddie, ‘I loved this day,’ He said he had to call my mom and ask what happened to Maja. She’s not throwing clubs. She’s being kind of fun. Not too mad.”

She has also been steadfast in expressing her thanks to her golf coach, Hans Larsson, sponsors, and the Swedish golf team. Stepping into 2024, the 1-time LPGA Tour winner also made it a point to acknowledge the efforts of her sponsor PING, who headlines her golf bag essentials; Nike, who helps her look her best and feel the most comfortable; and her manager, Sterling Sports Management, who readily takes some weight off her shoulders.

But what about the personal life bonds that help this avid soccer fan remain positive throughout her journey?

Stark’s personal life explored

The young six-time LET winner seems to be a person who prefers to keep her personal life private. While she chooses to express her love for her parents often, they remain absent from her online presence, highlighting a new protective shade in the personality of this golf star. However, she has an Instagram post with Albin Stark, who is possibly her brother. She is often seen taking skiing trips with him.

Any information on her current relationship status also remains unknown. The TV Show Friends enthusiast, however, shared a public friendship with fellow Swedish golfer Linn Grant. Their long-time friendship and 2022 rivalry, owing to their shared competitive nature, attracted massive attention throughout the golf world. Talking about Stark, Grant once said, “If it’s not me, she’s the No. 1 I want to see win… Maja is more of a daredevil. She goes for a one percent shot.”

Quick Fact: Maja Stark can also play multiple musical instruments!

As Maja Stark continues to progress in her career with her risk-taking swift shots, what’s the one habit she has bid goodbye to?

Maja Stark puts an end to her swearing days and continues to shine

Stark has a history of not hesitating to express her anger. So much so that outward expressions of anger had become stable in the life of this European pro. But her 2024 resolution seems to be no swearing, and she has been able to keep up with this resolution.

This decision came from a piece of advice from Peter Hanson, a former pro who works alongside Ludvig Aberg, to “just keep playing.” Such a mindset centered around focusing and grounding a golfer in the present with a futuristic outlook helps ground them in real-time and channel the pent-up anger on their game.

Talking about this, Stark said, “I think that has been way better for me, just both with staying calm with what I’m doing now and also being aggressive on the next shot.”

Maja Stark remains in the top few positions on the leaderboard of the JM Eagle LA Championship; only time will tell whether her efforts will prove fruitful or if she will miss the title after coming so close.